Dial for computing-scales



(No Model.)

J. H. SWIH-ART.

DIAL FOR COMPUTING SCALES.

No. 579.193. Patented Mar. 23, 1897.

UNITED STATES JOHN HENRY SiVlHA DIAL FOR COMP or CLEVELAND, orne.

UTHNG-SCALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 579,193, dated March 23, 189'?. Application led February l, 1896. Renewed October 1,1896. Serial No. 607,615. (No model.)

T0 LLZZ whom, t may conceive:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY SWU-mur, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulmprovements in Dials for Computing- Scales; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to increase the capacity of the dial in a computing-scale to indicate values at different rates without increasing the size of the dial or the number of annular value-columns thereon.

To this end the invention consists in a dial having on its face a series of annular valuecolumns each of which contains two series of transverse indicating-marks and two corresponding series of value-indicating vligures, the figures of one series being reversed with respectto the other series; and it also consists in the combination of said dial with the described face-plate, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The drawing is a front view of the face of a spring-balance computing-scale, the faceplate being partly broken away to show more of the dial.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents the dial of a spring-balance computingscale which when a weight is placed upon the scale-pan revolves proportionately in the direction of the arrow ZJ.

C represents the face-plate, which is placed over the-dial and is provided with two sightope'nings c o on opposite sides of the axis et the dial.

The dial is divided into annular columns a a CL2 a3 a4 a5 a6 a7, of which there may be any desired number. The outer column a is the weight-coluinn,and it is divided by radial lines f to indicate as many pounds as the scale will weigh with one revolution oi' the dial-in the present case ten pounds. In the face-plate a sight-opening c2 is cut over the weight-column, through which a little more than one-tenth ci' the column may be seen-that is to say, alittle more than the space devoted to one pound. The space devoted to each pound is subdivided by lines f into sixteen equal divisions,

representing ounces. The other annular columns are the Value-columns. Each column is divided by two series of approximatelyradial indica-ting -lines d d, which extend partly across the column from opposite sides thereof-that is to say, from the two circles c c which separate said column from the adjacent columns. Each value-column may be seen at two places-viz., through the two sight-openings c c. 0u the lower or reading edge or the sight-opening c, in line with the several columns,are placed the rate-indicating [i gu res el-f G, the., and upon the upper and reading edge of the sight-opening c are other rateindicating figures 3, 5, dye. Any igures may be used as rate-indicating figures provided the value-columns are correspondingly divided. The reading edges of the two sightopenings correspond with a diainetrical line. Each of the value columns has therefore associated with it two rate-indicating figures on opposite sides of the face-plate. Take the column a2, for example. The indicating-marks (Z, which extend inward from the outer dividing circle c, are to be read in conjunction with the rate-figure on the face-plate at the right. The number of these marks is such that they divide the columns into equal spaces, each representing one cent of value at sin cents per pound. Since the scale in one revolution of the dial weighs ten pounds, and ten pounds at six-cents amounts to sixty cents, there are sixty divisions formed by the marks d. At intervals value-indicating figures are placed adjacent to said marks, so that they may be read right side up through the sightopening c. rhcse iigures correspond with the number of divisions from the Zero-point and indicate the value, at the raie indicated on the face-plate, of any article en the scale-pan which turns the dial so as to bring' them in line with the reading edge of the sight-opening. The zero-line of the dial is in line with said reading edge of the sightopening c when the scale is empty. The indicating-marks df across the inner periphery of said column CL2-that is, the marks which extend from the inner division-circle e/ are to be read in conjunction with the rate-ligure 5 7 en the reading edge of the left sight-opening c These lines divide this part of the column into Iilty spaces, representing each IOO one cent, because at five cents per pound ten pounds will amount to fifty cents. Indicating-figures are placed at intervals in the columnadjacent to such inner indicating-marks, and they are so placed that they may be read right side up through the left si gilt-opening e. The figures to be read in conjunction with the inner value division-marks in any column are therefore inverted with respect to the figures which are to be read in conjunction with the outer value division-marks. The Zero-line for the figures which are read at the left is diametrically opposite to the zero-line of the other figures which are read at the right-that is to say, in line with the reading edge of the sight-opening e', when the scale is empty.

The other value-coluinns are divided like the column c2 to indicate values upon one side of the axis of the dial at one rate and upon the other side of the axis at another rate. For example, the column a is divided at its inner edge and provided with inverted figures to indicate values at three cents per pound on the left. Any number of columns may be formed upon the dial and any rate per pound may be placed upon the face-plate, provided the corresponding' column is proportionately divided.

It should be here stated that to prevent confusion in reading the indications upon the dial that the value figures and marks which are to be read at the right and those which are to be read at the left should be printed in contrasting colors.

It will be noticed that the weight of any article is always indicated by the position of the graduations in the weight-column with reference to the reading edge of the sightopening c2, which is in line with the reading edge of sight-opening c-that is to say, the weight is always shown at this point, while the values at different rates are shown by the several value-columns upon one side or the other of said dial; or, to employ another form of expression, the weights-figures may be read in conjunction with any set of valuefigures.

Having described my invention, I claim- I. In a computing-scale, a dial having a plurality of annular columns each of which is subdivided by two series of value-graduations and is provided with two sets of associated value-figures, the figures in one set being inverted with respect to those in the other set, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a computing-scale, the combination of a dial having a plurality of annular columns, each of which is subdivided at its edges respectively by two series of value-graduations which differ in number, and is provided with two sets of associated value-figures, the figures of one set being inverted with respect to those in the other set, with a face-plate with two sight-openings each having, on its reading edge in line with the several annular columns, rate-indicating figures, of which the figures on one reading edge differ from the gures which are correspondingly placed upon the other reading edge, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In a computing-scale, a dial having a plurality of annular value-columns, each of which is divided by two series of graduating marks and is provided with two series of associated value-figures, of which the figures in one set are inverted with respect to the figures in the other set, the value-figures in all of the columns, which are set in one direction having a common zero-line, while the inverted value-figures, in all of the columns, have a common zero-line on the opposite side of the dial, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4C. In a computing-scale, the combination of a dial having' a plurality of annular valuecolumns, each 01"; which is subdivided at its edges respectively by two series of value-graduations which differ in number and is provided with two sets of associated value-figures, the figures in one set being inverted with respect to those in the other set, and an annular column containing gures showing weight which may be read in conjunction with any set of value-figures, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a computing-scale, a dial having on its face two sets of concentric rows of' figures, which rows respectively represent progressive values at different rates, the figures in one set of rows being inverted with respect to the other figures, and the rows of one set beginning in a common Zero-line upon one side of' the dial, while the rows of the other set begin in a common Zero-line upon the opposite side of the dial, combined with a face-plate having two sight-openings on opposite sides of the center, the reading edge of' one si ght-opening having rate-indicatin g figures in line with the rows of value-indicating figures on the dial which appear right side up through said sight-opening, the other sight-opening having on its reading edge other rate-indicating figures in line with the rows of value-figures which appear right side up through said sightopening, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENRY SIVIHART.

IVitnesses:

E. L. THUnsToN, L. F. GniswoLD.

IOO

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